12
votes
How is forgiveness defined in Buddhism?
You said, "Forgiveness means if anybody do some harm to you you don't react and just try to pretend like it never happened to you."
This is called "Kshanti-paramita", the perfection of patience.
In ...
- 58.3k
10
votes
Accepted
Computers and Buddhist monks, offering computer to monk makes bad karma to both monk and donor?
In western monasteries isn't not uncommon for monks to use computers to teach the dhamma online or write books. However, a monk wont own the computer, you'll be giving the computer to the sangha.
...
- 1,603
6
votes
Accepted
How do Buddhists justify or explain that monks and/or temples amass and use wealth?
One should feel pity for those ignorant monks for they're sowing some very bad seeds for their future's well-being:
Bhikkhus, there are these five themes that should often be reflected upon by a ...
- 9,707
6
votes
How are there good overweight monks?
A well-known monk with a bodily disorder was the deceased Bhikkhu Buddhadasa, who was given all kinds of diets when he was alive. Buddhadasa was fat most of his life.
However, for example, some ...
- 40.5k
6
votes
Does being a lay Buddhist have any advantages over a Monk?
There is the case of Ghaṭīkāra, who was asked:
MN81:11.2: ‘Dear Ghaṭīkāra, you have heard this teaching, so why don’t you go forth from the lay life to homelessness?’
Ghaṭīkāra responded:
MN81:11.3:...
- 9,336
5
votes
How to know if someone has achieved nirvana?
You'll only know other's achievement of nirvana if and only if you've achieved nirvana yourself. It is the same as real life, if you've not reached the same level as your opponent in the same field, ...
- 720
5
votes
How to know if someone has achieved nirvana?
In MN 112 Chabbisodanasuttaṃ, Buddha explained about how to make sure that someone has truly achieved nibbana.
There are some Q&S that need to be asked to the person.
- 399
5
votes
Accepted
Why do Buddhism monk hits people in the head?
I don't think it's a usual practice. I found this explanation online:
A monk who was seen forcefully hitting temple-goers' heads with a bundle of dried grass has defended the unorthodox practice, ...
- 46.3k
5
votes
How are there good overweight monks?
I think it’s possible to eat in moderation and be overweight. I’m not saying it’s possible to become overweight, but rather, to maintain your excess weight.
Two factors come to mind:
1) monks don’t ...
- 233
5
votes
Why do we need to work?
If you can attain the real peace of meditation, it is like becoming a millionaire.
Since you have so much knowledge, who can easily get a job and earn a living, you can consider taking a holiday for ...
- 40.5k
4
votes
Would a skin condition stop someone becoming a monk?
Previous lifestyle & herpes should not prevent a person from becoming a monk. If your friend wants to become a monk, he should talk to a monk at the temple.
- 40.5k
4
votes
Receiving blessings for a baby at a temple
The Supreme Buddha has said that each and everyone should be responsible for good and bad one does. According to this we can imagine the plight of this monk (I should not be calling him a disciple of ...
- 9,695
4
votes
Accepted
Prohibitions against eating certain animals?
Page 308 of The Patimokkha Rules
Translated & Explained
by Thanissaro Bhikkhu:
The Mahavagga (Mv.VI.23.9-15) forbids ten kinds of flesh: that of human
beings, elephants, horses, dogs, snakes, ...
- 46.3k
4
votes
Buddhist monks give advice for lay life
In the same vein as ChrisW's answer, I would ask you, "You and I live different lives. I do not live your life. Is it appropriate for me to give advice?" The answer is generally "yes," especially ...
- 259
4
votes
Do you have to become a Monk to attain enlightment?
A lay person can realize Nibbana in a very short period of time(In few years or even in a shorter period of time) If s/he practise mindfulness all day long with effort. Even a very young lay person ...
- 1,058
4
votes
How to disconnect family life & become monk?
MN82 discusses the drawbacks faced by Raṭṭhapāla when expressing a desire to go forth:
Please give me permission to go forth.”
When he said this, Raṭṭhapāla’s parents said to him,
“But, dear ...
- 9,336
4
votes
Why do we need to work?
I am a software engineer. Is it shameful if I became a monk throwing away all the knowledge that I have accumulated all these years(more than a decade). In my previous years, I was amused by ...
- 9,707
4
votes
Does being a lay Buddhist have any advantages over a Monk?
To answer simply the question: No, being (doing) a lay Buddhist has NOT any advantage over a (doing) Monk who is gone forth, as far as following the Dhamma path to Nirvana is concerned.
4
votes
Does being a lay Buddhist have any advantages over a Monk?
It is truly difficult to follow the path when being a lay person, just see how difficult it is to observe the 5 precepts as a lay person. You will find it much easier to follow the path with people ...
- 378
4
votes
Accepted
Buddhism Open Activities for all communities
Your question is valid, and you thought it is related to Buddhism, but actually it's not.
In some Muslim majority countries like Malaysia, it is illegal to proselytize or convert Muslims to other ...
- 37.4k
3
votes
Should Lay Buddhists Teach the Dhamma?
The Buddha's opinion:
'I shall not pass into final Nirvana until the lay-men and lay-women are accomplished and well-trained, learned and erudite, knowers of the Dhamma, living by Dhamma and walking ...
- 31
3
votes
Accepted
A question regarding the level of worldly participation for a buddhist monk
As a Zen Monk I can answer the question regarding worldly participation in the following way. There is no definitive suggestion or rule within the Monastic Code of a Mahayana Monk. A Monk or Nun has ...
- 184
3
votes
What is the meaning behind different robe colors?
The command was the color Kasava--that means dirty or stained brown. No other color allowed. But the patches and dyes varied, so the Buddha approved the MINOR variations of brown. The idea behind the ...
- 31
3
votes
Is there any significance to shaving the head?
(I can't comment on this "...it is interesting to note that once you become enlightened you don't worry about such small things. Although Siddhartha cut his hair, Buddha kept long hair himself. – ...
3
votes
Can one be a part-time monk?
Some people become temporary monks -- I think that's a common practice in some countries.
How to become a monk? says, about "temporary bhikkhus",
Naturally, temporary bhikkhus are allowed ...
- 46.3k
3
votes
How to know if someone has achieved nirvana?
I am also a sri lankan and i know your topic. I am just suggesting you to follow what he preeches for sometime and then come into a conclusion by yourself. If you feel there's something in what he ...
- 155
3
votes
Must Lay Arahants become Buddhist Monks?
If and when a lay-follower attains arahant-ship, he or she has to either enter the Order that very day or else must attain parinibbàna. This is a Dhammata. This is conformity to the Dhammaniyāma – a ...
- 9,695
3
votes
How to memorize suttas?
The best way to "memorize" suttas is to get the key idea or sanna of the given sutta. It is the “learning” of true dhamma and not “memorization” that will help in the retention of key phrases. For ...
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